Hiking & Backpacking communities

Volunteer-led hiking club in Brevard, with weekly hikes in Pisgah and the nearby forests.

Brevard

Volunteer-run hiking club with group hikes several days a week around Prescott, open to all who want to hike to stay healthy.

Prescott, AZ

Auburn volunteer group leading wildflower hikes, river clean-ups and canyon stewardship.

Auburn CA

Vancouver, WA mountaineering club with climbs, hikes and outdoor trips.

Vancouver, WA

Seattle-based volunteer LGBTQIA+ outdoor community that hosts monthly Queer Climb Nights at Seattle Bouldering Project, Edgeworks and Vertical World, plus affinity mountaineering courses.

Seattle

Sierra Club chapter for New Mexico and El Paso with free outings open to non-members.

Albuquerque, NM · not in an area yet

Austin Meetup group for Hill Country hikes and Lady Bird Lake paddles open to beginners.

Austin, TX · not in an area yet

Club founded in 1932 that maintains 120 miles of the AT and holds about two group hikes a week; guests welcome.

Roanoke, VA

Nonprofit partner of Rocky Mountain National Park offering guided hikes, field classes and volunteer days.

Estes Park CO

Large free hiking group running monthly group hikes around San Diego County.

San Diego, CA

Sierra Club hikes and outings around Santa Fe, open to non-members.

Santa Fe, NM · not in an area yet

Land conservation group leading hikes, restoration days and outings on and around Mount Diablo.

Walnut Creek, CA

Sedona hiking and social Meetup with about 2,800 members: morning hikes on red rock trails several times a week, plus happy hours and music afternoons.

Sedona

Sedona hiking club since 1961, with several hikes a week at different paces in the red rocks, led by hike bosses, and monthly meetings. Hikers sign a waiver and pay first.

Sedona

Nonprofit maintaining the Sheltowee Trace, which passes near Corbin, and leading its annual Hiker Challenge section hikes.

Corbin, KY

Meetup group for shorter Saturday-morning hikes of half a mile to five miles; dogs welcome.

Charleston, SC

Local Sierra Club group with outings and environmental events.

Roanoke, VA

Sierra Club chapter running free volunteer-led group hikes, outings and service trips around San Diego County.

San Diego, CA

Park partner nonprofit offering guided hikes, night walks and nature events in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Gatlinburg, TN

Knoxville hiking club founded in 1924 that maintains the Appalachian Trail in the Smokies and leads Saturday and Sunday hikes; visitors are welcome on hikes.

Knoxville

Seacoast land trust with conserved forests, a monthly guided walk series, naturalist hikes and trail volunteer days.

Exeter, NH · not in an area yet

Tucson's long-running hiking club with weekly guided hikes from easy walks to peak bagging, plus trail work.

Tucson, AZ · not in an area yet

Regional land trust leading guided hikes and tours on protected lands around the Rogue Valley.

Medford, OR · not in an area yet

Meetup group with slower-paced group hikes of two miles or more around southern Wisconsin.

Madison, WI

Spokane outdoor club since 1915 running hikes, backpacking, climbing and ski trips, schools and trail work.

Spokane, WA · not in an area yet

Free social group hikes around St. George posted on Meetup.

St. George, UT

Stowe land trust running guided walks, nature programs and volunteer days on its lands.

Stowe VT

Regional land trust offering guided walks and volunteer days around Concord and Sudbury.

Concord MA

Duluth-based nonprofit that maintains the Superior Hiking Trail and runs group hikes, challenges and trail volunteer days.

Duluth, MN

Tri-Cities club running scheduled hikes, paddling trips and Appalachian Trail maintenance.

Johnson City, TN

Statewide hiking and trail-building group with frequent group hikes and trail work days.

Nashville, TN

Meetup group for hikes and outdoor adventures around Jackson and the Tetons.

Jackson, WY

Friends group supporting Coopers Rock State Forest with trail projects, volunteer days and events.

Morgantown, WV

Seattle outdoor club founded in 1906, with volunteer-led courses and trips in hiking, backpacking, climbing, kayaking, skiing, navigation and first aid.

Seattle

South Sound branch of The Mountaineers with hikes, climbing courses, stewardship and outings.

Olympia WA

Natural history museum volunteers who lead free guided nature hikes around San Diego County.

San Diego, CA

Eugene outdoor club with hikes, climbs, bike trips and outings year-round.

Eugene, OR

Queer outdoor adventure community in Denver hosting hikes and outdoor meetups.

Denver

Meetup group for hiking, paddling, biking and social outings in the Roanoke and New River valleys.

Roanoke, VA

Missoula mountaineering club running member-led hikes, climbs and ski trips in western Montana.

Missoula, MT

One of Tucson's largest hiking groups on Meetup, with hikes for beginners and experienced hikers.

Tucson, AZ · not in an area yet

Women's hiking group meeting for trail outings around Charlottesville.

Charlottesville, VA

Middle Tennessee chapter of Trail Dames, a hiking club for women of all sizes and abilities.

Nashville, TN

Meetup group for close-by hikes, bike rides, paddles and easy overnight campouts.

Orlando, FL

Long-running Portland club with weekly hikes, backpack trips, bike rides and lodge outings.

Portland, OR

Cincinnati Meetup hiking club with brisk conditioning hikes and social hikes around the region.

Cincinnati, OH · not in an area yet

Free, volunteer-run Meetup group for adults 21 and over in central North Carolina: mostly hikes, plus camping, backpacking and paddling.

Raleigh

Land trust leading free guided hikes and volunteer days on protected lands around Truckee.

Truckee CA

Salt Lake City Meetup group for hikers, with weekday evening hikes, a weekly Friday sunset hike and weekend outings.

Salt Lake City

University of Vermont student outing club with trips, rentals and skills instruction.

Burlington, VT